Benefits of a Private Guided tour in Italy
We not only offer small group journeys in northern Italy, but also work with guests that are looking for a customized experience for their vacation to Italy. No two itineraries, for a private guided tour are the same. Though we find our small group tours to be a great way to meet new people who share a common interest with you, there are many benefits of a private guided tour of Italy.
A Private Guided Tour of Italy is right for you if:
- You don’t not want the hassle and stress of having to drive, navigate the roads – you prefer to have a local driver-guide
- You want someone with local knowledge, experience and expertise, to come up with a custom itinerary and just take care of you.
- You want to see the highlights, but you also want unique experiences that help to immerse you in the local culture.
- You just want to book your flight and go, without needing to spend weeks planning.
- You don’t want the same old trip that everyone else books and you don’t like tourist traps.
- You are looking for quality and good service over a bargain.
There is no “one size fits all” for tours of Italy despite what you may have heard. Yes, many people choose to follow the well-worn path from Rome to Florence and Venice but that doesn’t mean that you have to. You may want to visit those cities and explore your own interests. Or you might want to explore some of Italy’s hidden gems.
Why you should choose a private guided tour of Italy
Private guided tours can be great value, particularly if you want to relax and let a local expert, like myself, take you around the country while you enjoy the scenery and experiences you’ve been dreaming of, those that you would miss out on if you were traveling on your own.
Taking a private guided tour means you can set your own pace and visit the places that you and your travel companions most want to see. There’s no waiting for group members and you can take full advantage of our local knowledge to ensure the trip you are dreaming of is realized.
1. You’re just not a “tour” person.
I hear this all the time. There are lots of types of Italy tours: large bus tours, small bus tours, private tours, small group tours with no bus… the list goes on. At Travels with Audrey, we do not sell someone else’s tour. We create custom itineraries not only for our small group journeys, but also for your Italy vacation, starting from scratch. There are no templates. You can decide what you’d like to do, and what you’d like to skip, and we’ll make it happen.
2. There are specific things you want to see.
You may or may not know where you want to go, how long to spend in each place, or the best way to get from A to B. There is no “one size fits all” for tours of Italy despite what you may have heard. Yes, many people choose to follow the well-worn path from Rome to Florence and Venice but that doesn’t mean that you have to. You might want to explore some of Italy’s gems not found on the main tourist trail which is our expertise, and yes of course I can also incorporate some of these must see places on your itinerary.
3. You just don’t have time to create this trip.
I have worked with a lot of clients who are well-traveled and have put together their own trips in the past. The amount of information online about Italy is overwhelming. You know how to research, plan, and book, but you don’t have the time to do it. Sure you can look at google maps, read travel forums or scroll the internet for suggestions, but none offer you a connection to the local culture to experience the Italy so many miss out on.
4. Your group or family has specific needs.
You have a group with diverse interests that you’re not sure how to incorporate into one trip. Aunt Sally wants to go to the beach, while Dad wants to hike but also not miss main sights. The kids want to visit forts and eat gelato. A private guided tour is also ideal if you and your group have specific interests, like cooking, hiking, cycling or wish to go back to your roots and visit the towns and places your ancestors came from.
5. It’s your dream trip and you want it to be perfect.
Maybe you’ve been dreaming about an Italy trip for a long time. You’ve seen photos in magazines, and you want to have an amazing trip and fall in love with Italy. But you aren’t sure where to start, how much time you really need, or even how much it will cost. You don’t want to travel with strangers, and all the tours you read about sound great. Or, maybe you don’t want to be the one responsible for making sure everyone else’s trip in your private group is perfect.
Benefits of a private guided tour of Italy
For many travelers, private guided tours offer unique vacation opportunities that can be customized to reflect personal needs and wants. You don’t have to depend on pre-planned itineraries. Private guided tours are designed around what you are wish to get out of your vacation.
1. You choose who you hang out with.
Meeting new people on a tour can sometimes be half the fun of your vacation – but there is always a risk that there is someone on the tour that you don’t get along with which can sometimes put a damper on the trip. By booking a custom guided journey, you have the opportunity to gather the people you want to hang out with and feel that would enjoy the same kind of vacation as you.
2. Go when you want to go.
We all would love to be able to drop everything and go on vacation whenever we want, but the reality is that we have many responsibilities and obligations in our lives that need to come first. Sometimes our small group journeys just do not fit into your schedule. With a private guided tour, you can schedule your vacation for when it works best for you.
3. You gain access to exclusive experiences.
Yes, you can plan your own friends and family vacation without the help of a tour company. But you may be missing out on some incredible experiences that are just not available to regular tourists or large groups.
On many of our private guided tours, just like on our small group journeys, we are able to set up exclusive experiences like private tastings with winemakers, or walking tours that dive deeper than the general public tours that just skim the surface and so much more. Traveling Italy is about so much more than just “seeing the sites.” It’s about connecting with the locals, embracing genuine everyday Italian lifestyle, experiencing the local cuisine paired with local wines, the natural beauty, all without the usual travel stress.
4. Handpicked local guides in each destination.
Did you know that to be an official guide for the major tourist destinations in Italy you need to pass a rigorous exam for each city or region? This is challenging even for one city so most choose to focus on only one. An excellent guide in Venice will likely not have expertise in Rome or Florence so it’s important that you can access the right local knowledge.
5. You may not know what you don’t know.
Where should you stay? What should you see? How can you avoid the crowds? You may not be aware of some of the wonderful experiences available to you in any given location. Though you can do extensive research online, there are still many amazing experiences, restaurants, and local activities that may be completely unknown to travel guidebooks, or haven’t been shared on social media. We have personal connections in each of the locations we run tours and are constantly seeking out new experiences for our guests. We can create your itinerary by suggesting activities that may not even be on your radar.
6. Access local experts (dedicated to you!)
One of the best things about a private guided tour to Italy is that during your planning, and from the moment you land, you have access directly to us, your local hosts. Traveling with a certified international tour manager like myself, means that as your local host, I make sure the logistics of your trip go smoothly from hotels to transportation, help you with special requests along the way, share cultural information and travel tips, offers orientation walks in the various locations you are visiting, walk you to that market or site that might be hard to find on your own, recommend favorite restaurants, help you arrange your plans for your free time and I am there for you in case of safety or security issues.
When I am also your you driver-guide, it is the way for you to enjoy a one-of-a-kind, hassle-free travel experience where transportation, lodging, driving, cultural customs and foreign languages are never your concern. There’s no need to worry about getting from the airport and booking separate transfers. We also help you find bank machines, pharmacies, the best restaurants – whatever you need!
7. Private transportation
With a private tour group, you can also rely more on private transportation to get you around. While large tour groups may end up on large buses, small private tour groups get around by private car or minibus. The smaller size of these tourism vehicles are great at offering travelers more flexibility. While a large tour bus has difficulties fitting down smaller streets or roads, your private transportation should have no problem. The small size of your group makes it easy to see more intimate places and little known corners. Your personal driver and guide will take you where you would like to go, to what you would personally like to see!
Are private guided tours within your budget?
You might be surprised to learn that private guided tours can be a cost-effective way to travel – especially if you are in a large family group. Take advantage of the van-sized transport and you will come out even or save money on ground transportation costs.
How much does a private guided tour cost compared to a small group tour?
Cost is a legitimate concern for any major purchase. Guests are often pleasantly surprised that we can offer a private departure for less than you would pay for some other tour company’s standard tours. Every private tour is priced differently because it’s completely unique. Think of the difference between a frozen TV dinner and one that has been prepared for you by a chef using the finest ingredients. The key variables are your itinerary, group size and choice of accommodation. Prices start from $5,000USD per person for a 9 night/10 day tour staying in 4 star hotels When you think about how much time those on bus tours spend just waiting for other people, plus all of the other cons associated with mass produced travel, I am the right choice for a select group of travelers who want more out of their travel experience.
Want to see Italy on your own terms in comfort and safety?
Private guided tours can be great value, particularly if you want to relax and let us take you around the country while you enjoy the scenery and experiences you’ve been dreaming of.
Do you want to experience Italy like a local with locals?
This is how you can do it. Audrey helps you make your vacation truly memorable by offering small group journeys and custom guided journeys.
